HB 1693
In CommitteeHouse
WIC hematological screening
Providing an exemption for women, infants, and children program staff to perform hematological screening tests.
This status may be delayed. See Action History below for the latest updates.
How does a bill become law?
- Introduced: The bill is filed and assigned a number.
- Committee: A subject-matter committee holds hearings, takes public testimony, and decides whether to advance the bill.
- Floor Vote: The full chamber (House or Senate) debates and votes on the bill.
- Opposite Chamber: The bill repeats the committee and floor vote process in the other chamber.
- Governor: The Governor reviews the bill and decides whether to sign or veto it.
- Signed: The bill has been signed into law.
AI Analysis
This bill allows staff at Washington’s WIC clinics to legally perform simple blood tests (like hemoglobin checks) using small blood samples from children and pregnant women, helping detect conditions like anemia on-site. It also clarifies existing legal exemptions for other health workers, such as federal employees and medical assistant trainees, to perform certain medical tasks under specified conditions.
- Adds a new exemption (item 6) allowing WIC clinic staff to perform hematological tests (blood tests like hemoglobin screening) using heel-stick, toe-stick, or finger-stick samples.
- Clarifies that this exemption applies only to tests and evaluations conducted within a WIC clinic.
- Amends existing law (RCW 18.360.090) to explicitly state that this law does not prohibit certain individuals—including federal employees, medical assistant externs, and research staff—from performing specific medical tasks under defined conditions.
- Maintains existing exemptions for licensed professionals, federal agencies, dialysis technicians, and researchers conducting blood draws under approved oversight.
Who is affected
- Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) clinic staff — WIC clinic staff can now legally perform specific blood tests (like hemoglobin checks) using small blood samples (heel-stick, toe-stick, or finger-stick) without needing additional licensure under this law.
- Families enrolled in the WIC program — Federally funded WIC clinics can expand on-site screening for conditions like anemia in children and pregnant women using simple blood tests, improving access to early detection.
- Medical assistant trainees in externships — Medical assistants in externship programs gain clarity that their supervised clinical work—including blood draws for research—is permitted under state law.
- Federal health care providers — Staff at federal agencies (e.g., VA, Indian Health Service, military clinics) retain authority to perform medical services as part of official duties.
- Researchers and institutions conducting clinical studies — Research institutions and cancer centers can continue to conduct home-based blood draws for study participants under approved protocols.
Pro/Con Analysis
Stronger case for benefits
Potential Benefits (5)
Enables on-site anemia screening for pregnant women and children in WIC clinics, improving early detection and timely intervention—especially critical for low-income families who may lack access to timely lab referrals or specialty care.
HealthcarePeopleRef: Sec. 1, item (6)Reduces barriers to timely nutrition-related health assessments for vulnerable populations (e.g., infants, pregnant women), supporting public health goals of preventing developmental delays and pregnancy complications linked to anemia.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 1, item (6)WIC clinics (often run by local health departments or nonprofits) can reduce outsourcing costs for lab work, improving operational efficiency and allowing reallocation of resources to expand outreach or nutrition education services.
Business & EmploymentPeopleRef: Sec. 1, item (6)Clarifies that medical assistant externs may legally perform blood draws under supervision, supporting experiential learning and reducing legal uncertainty for training programs—benefiting students and educational institutions.
EducationPeopleRef: Sec. 1, item (5)Reaffirms authority for federal providers (e.g., VA, IHS) to perform medical services, ensuring continuity of care for Native American, veteran, and military populations without state regulatory interference.
HealthcareLean peopleRef: Sec. 1, item (2)
Potential Concerns (3)
Expanding blood testing to non-licensed WIC clinic staff increases the risk of improper sample collection, misinterpretation of results, or delayed diagnosis if staff lack sufficient training or oversight—though the bill limits tests to simple hemoglobin screens and restricts use to WIC clinics, reducing but not eliminating risk.
Public SafetyRef: Sec. 1, item (6)The bill does not require additional training, certification, or quality assurance protocols for WIC staff performing blood tests, potentially leading to inconsistent test accuracy across clinics and undermining clinical reliability.
HealthcareRef: Sec. 1, item (6)While the fiscal impact is described as minimal, implementation may require new supervision, documentation, or quality control measures by local health jurisdictions or WIC agencies, imposing modest administrative burdens on local governments.
Local GovernmentRef: Sec. 1, item (6)
Who Is Most Affected
Low-income families enrolled in WIC benefit significantly: children and pregnant women gain faster, more convenient access to anemia screening—critical for preventing developmental delays and pregnancy complications. This directly improves health outcomes for a vulnerable, economically disadvantaged group.
WIC clinic staff gain legal authority to perform limited blood tests, expanding their scope of practice and enabling more comprehensive care delivery—though this may increase workload without explicit compensation or training support.
Medical assistant trainees benefit from legal clarity that allows them to perform supervised clinical tasks during externships, facilitating hands-on learning and reducing legal risk for training programs.
Federal health providers retain unimpeded authority to deliver care under federal programs (e.g., VA, IHS), ensuring uninterrupted service delivery without state licensing conflicts.
Research institutions and cancer centers retain ability to conduct home-based blood draws under IRB-approved protocols, supporting continuity of clinical research—though this provision is secondary to the bill’s primary focus.